A method for forming a via in an integrated circuit comprises patterning a first opening in a first hardmask, the first hardmask disposed on a first organic self-planarizing polymer (OPL) layer, removing an exposed portion of the first OPL layer to define a cavity, removing an exposed portion of a second hardmask in the cavity, removing an exposed portion of a first dielectric layer disposed under the second hardmask to further define the cavity, removing an exposed portion of a first cap layer in the cavity, removing an exposed portion of a second dielectric layer to further define the cavity, removing an exposed portion of a second cap layer to further define the cavity, removing an exposed portion of a liner layer over a second conductive material in the cavity, and depositing a conductive material in the cavity.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A method for forming a via in an integrated circuit, the method comprising: patterning a first opening in a first hardmask, the first hardmask disposed on a first organic self-planarizing polymer (OPL) layer; removing an exposed portion of the first OPL layer to define a cavity; removing an exposed portion of a second hardmask disposed under the first OPL layer to further define the cavity; removing an exposed portion of a first dielectric layer disposed under the second hardmask to further define the cavity; removing an exposed portion of a first cap layer disposed under the first dielectric layer to further define the cavity; removing an exposed portion of a second dielectric layer disposed under the first cap layer to further define to further define the cavity; removing an exposed portion of a second cap layer disposed under the second dielectric layer to further define to further define the cavity; removing an exposed portion of a liner layer over a second conductive material in the cavity; and depositing a conductive material in the cavity.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising depositing a single layer of liner material in the cavity prior to depositing a conductive material in the cavity.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first hardmask includes a titanium nitride (TiN) layer and an oxide material layer disposed between the TiN layer and the first OPL layer.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the removing the exposed portion of the first OPL layer to define a cavity is performed by a reactive ion etching (RIE) process that is selective to TiN material.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the removing the exposed portion of the first OPL layer to define a cavity is performed by a reactive ion etching (RIE) process that is selective to TiN and oxide materials.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second hardmask includes an oxide material.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second hardmask includes a nitride material.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second cap layer is a nitride.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the nitride is chosen from the group consisting of silicon nitride, silicon carbon nitride, or silicon oxynitride.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second cap layer is an oxide.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second cap layer is a silicon oxide.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
May 12, 2016
September 19, 2017
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